Roman Finds
Friday October 17, 2008
I saw a number of Roman era archaeological discoveries this week:
- Also in Rome the tomb of a second century CE Roman nobleman, Marcus Nonius Macrinus, was discovered. The tomb was covered and partially collapsed by mud during a flood of the River Tiber centuries ago, but this helped preserve decorations and inscriptions which archaeologists can now examine. Some news agencies reported that Macrinus, a military leader, was an inspiration for the film Gladiator, while other news agencies (understandably) rubbished this suggestion.
- Diggers working on the Palatine Hill, home of Roman imperial residences (and again in Rome), believe they may have discovered the location of Caligula’s murder by his guards.
- Archaeologists are halfway through uncovering a stadium built in 142 CE at Pozzouli near Naples. The remains were buried by ash from a volcano after an eruption in 1538, although the complex was damaged by a later road built through the area. The work is partially supported by an European Union grant.
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